Authors to share 'Tidbits & Tales' at upcoming event

Two distinguished writers will be appearing in Prescott the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 5, when Drs. Diana Gabaldon and Thomas M. Myers participate in an "Authors' Event: Tidbits & Tales" event. The gathering, to be held that day from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Hotel St. Michael ballroom on Whiskey Row, is being sponsored by Prescott's Chapter Y, P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization), an international affiliation that supports the educational advancement of women through scholarships and grants.

Gabaldon is the author of the award-winning best-selling "Outlander" novels, described by Salon magazine as "the smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D. with a background in scripting 'Scrooge McDuck' comics." The historical fiction Outlander adventure series had its start in 1991 and has continued through six more New York Times best-selling novels, with some 19 million copies being in print worldwide. The series has been published in 26 countries and 23 languages.

Gabaldon (that's pronounced "GAA-bull-dohn", with the last syllable rhyming with "stone") also has written several books in a sub-series featuring Lord John Grey (a "major minor" character from the Outlander series).

Myers, co-author with Michael P. Ghiglieri of the book titled "Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon", earned his M.D. from the University of Arizona. He worked as a physician at Grand Canyon for a decade as a South Rim resident with his family. His exploring of the canyon began at the tender age of 10, and he has hiked its backcountry extensively and rowed the Colorado River several times. He has responded to and treated thousands of people suffering injuries in the canyon while studying "all too many traumatic fatalities" occurring here. He and his co-authors provide "the first-ever detailed statistical analysis of river-running accidents in their book, dispelling many previously held myths about the risks of running the Colorado."

Myers, who also holds a degree in history from Northern Arizona University, now lives in his hometown of Flagstaff with his wife and three children.

Tickets for the Oct. 5 fund-raising event are $25, and seating is limited and by reservation only. For reservations, contact Regina Younger at either 443-5252 or ryounger@cableone.net. The doors will open at 1:30 and will include "an elegant two-bite dessert bar with coffee, tea and ice water." The authors' talks will begin at 2 p.m.

Prescott's Peregrine Book Company will have books available for sale at the event, and the authors will be glad to sign "any and all" books along with those who "bring their own."